Temporal Sequencing of Naturalistic Associations Between Body Satisfaction and Physical Activity: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Women in Midlife With Elevated Cardiovascular Risk

The goal of the present study was to examine naturalistic associations between body satisfaction and physical activity (PA) among women in midlife. Women 40-60 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension; N= 75; M-age = 51.63) responded to five surveys per day for 10 days while accelerometer-derived PA measurements were collected continuously. PA parameters included cognitive determinants (PA motivation and intentions) and accelerometer-measured PA behavior (sedentary behavior, light-intensity PA, and moderate to vigorous PA). Multilevel models indicated that associations between body satisfaction and everyday PA differed across PA determinants, time frames (concurrent and prospective), and levels (momentary, daily, and person). For example, positive bidirectional associations were identified between women's daily body satisfaction and PA motivation, whereas greater momentary light-intensity PA (but not moderate to vigorous PA) was unidirectionally associated with greater body satisfaction at a subsequent prompt. These findings provide insight into how associations between body satisfaction and PA unfold in the daily lives of women in midlife and highlight the complexities of these associations.